University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlights the best programs.
Get Matched With Online Colleges
It's hard to beat California State University-Chico for its location, not to mention the academics. Their northern California campus is nestled against the Cascade Range and is in striking distance of the glorious Mt. Shasta. On campus, students seek equivalent highs in their academic pursuits. In fact, students can pursue degrees that include but are not limited to construction management, education, journalism and public relations, public health, and sustainable manufacturing. If for some reason a student needs a major that is not offered on the Chico campus, the Cal State system is comprised of 23 campuses, one of which is sure to meet their need.
Search All Programs
Overview of California State University – Chico
When Chico State students aren't hard at work on their academic pursuits, the campus offers loads of organizations and activities to help produce a well-rounded college experience. There are fraternities and sororities that offer social, leadership, and service opportunities. In fact, the Chico campus is home to over 240 organizations that span athletics, social clubs, and clubs that cater to almost any academic, political, or other interest.
On top of all this, the Chico campus is home to the Wildcat Recreation Center. This is a state-of-the-art facility where students can drop in for an unscheduled workout or join a group exercise class. There's a full climbing gym, a lap pool, and loads of opportunities to join a club or intramural sports team.
General Information
School Type | Public |
---|---|
Campus Setting | City: Small |
Campus Housing | Yes |
Student Faculty Ratio | 24:1 |
Graduation Rate | 67% |
Year Founded | 1887 |
Student Enrollment
Total Students17,110
16,164
946
Undergraduate Student
Male 7,597
Female 8,567
Graduate Student
Male 445
Female 501
Explore Map
Top Rankings For California State University – Chico
Admissions
APPLICATIONS25,908
ACCEPTANCE18,654
Acceptance Rate72%
Enrollment 2,612
Admissions | |
---|---|
Application Fee | $70 |
High School GPA | Required |
High School Rank | NA |
High School Transcripts | Required |
College Prep Courses | Required |
Recommendations | NA |
SAT/ACT | Required |
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | NA |
Application Deadline | November 30 |
Common Application Accepted | No |
Tuition Cost & Financial Aid
Since California State University-Chico is a publicly funded institution, students find that the tuition and other expenses are rather low, especially when compared to private colleges and universities. In fact, a full year of tuition, books, and supplies at Chico is a mere $9,000 for California residents. For students from outside of California and who don't participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, the price tag rises to around $21,000. When living expenses are tallied, California residents and WUE participants pay between $22,000 and $24,000, depending on where they choose to live. Non-residents pay between $34,000 and $37,000. While these are very competitive prices, that is only the gross cost.
The average net cost for a year at Chico, inclusive of living expenses, is a mere $15,000. The lowest income students pay only around $10,000 per year while households with an income of $110,000 or more pay only an average price of $23,000. It's then easy to see that Chico State presents a terrific value in education.
Average net price | 2018-2019 |
---|---|
Net Price | $14,843 |
Average Total Aid | $8,955 |
Students Receiving Financial Aid | 76% |
Room & Board | $13,422 |
Sticker Price
- Tuition In-State - $7,806
- Tuition Out-of-State - $19,686
- Books and Supplies - $1,970
- Room & Board - $13,422
- Other - $2,796
Academics
Though some may be attracted to Chico State's terrific location among the Sierra Mountains, there are more important, and better, reasons to enroll in this Cal State school. The best of those reasons is Chico's academic programs which prompt students to expand their knowledge and skills. Thus equipped, Chico graduates typically enter the job market ready to succeed. While any measure of academic strength is something of a moving target, there are a few key statistics researchers use.
Chief among those statistics is the retention rate. This figure measures how many first-time, full-time students return to Chico's beautiful campus for a second year. Higher numbers indicate great satisfaction in the faculty, curriculum, and even campus resources and opportunities for real personal growth. At Chico, the retention rate is a very strong 84%, which is competitive with many of the nation's best public and private colleges and universities. On top of this, Chico State boasts a strong graduation rate of 67%.
Chico's success is built on many factors, but one of the key indicators of academic success is the student-to-faculty ratio. For a large, public university with over 16,000 undergraduate students, Chico's 24 to 1 ratio is impressive indeed. Chico students are more than mere numbers. Indeed, they are the future of California and the nation.
Retention
Rate
4 year
Graduation
Rate
6 year
Graduation
Rate
Student Population Total
Student Population 17,110
16,164
946
Most Popular Programs & Majors
(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)
All Business Majors | 688 Total Graduates / 16% |
---|---|
Business Administration and Management, General | 688 Graduates |
All Social Sciences Majors | 386 Total Graduates / 9% |
Sociology | 129 Graduates |
Social Sciences, General | 68 Graduates |
Political Science and Government, General | 65 Graduates |
Anthropology | 51 Graduates |
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies | 318 Total Graduates / 8% |
Kinesiology and Exercise Science | 125 Graduates |
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | 102 Graduates |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness, General | 91 Graduates |
Health Professions and Related Programs | 317 Total Graduates / 8% |
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 143 Graduates |
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 110 Graduates |
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General | 64 Graduates |
Visual and Performing Arts | 261 Total Graduates / 6% |
Design and Visual Communications, General | 91 Graduates |
Game and Interactive Media Design | 71 Graduates |
Music, General | 40 Graduates |
Art/Art Studies, General | 25 Graduates |
All Other Diplomas | 53% |
Outcome & Salary
After graduation, the alumni of California State University-Chico see very positive outcomes. They take their strong academic skills and knowledge and apply them in fields where they prosper. The top earning graduates tend to come from the registered nursing students, who start their clinical careers earning a median salary over $95,000, before bonuses and benefits. At the lower end of the reported salary outcomes are the electrical engineers, who do very well with a starting salary of $70,000. Other majors from Chico may not make as much in their first year or so, but they are sure to move up or enroll in graduate school and take their careers to new highs.
Graduates Salary | |
---|---|
College Grads Early Career Salary | $57,300 |
College Grads Average Salary | $73,127 |
College Grads Mid Career Salary | $108,700 |
Return on Investment (ROI) | |
---|---|
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential | $731,270 |
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential | $1,818,270 |
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year | $59,372 |
10 Year Projected ROI | $671,898 |
20 Year Projected ROI | $1,758,898 |
No College Education Salary Comparison | |
---|---|
National Average Salary | $38,792 |
10 Year Projected Income | $387,920 |
20 Year Projected Income | $775,840 |
Photos & Videos
Related Top College Resources